River walked the ship for about the thousandth time, running her hand lightly against its cool, metal skin. With just the slightest of touches, she could feel everything Serenity did. She could feel the pull of a steady burn and the weightlessness of drifting; she could feel the push of the engines as they tried to accommodate each request and the sigh of relief when the crew was again at peace.

Serenity was like a big cocoon to her. It held all of them, the Captain, Simon, Kaylee, in a warm embrace and floated them effortlessly into the black. It was a haven and a home. But River knew it would never be her home.

***

“River?”

Simon pushed open his sister’s door and was puzzled to not find her there, although he was not particularly surprised. River did not like to stay put. Since her time at the Academy, she was often restless and agitated and constantly moving seemed to be the only state in which she could find any peace. Even sleeping didn’t seem to bring her the rest she needed.

Of course, it meant Simon was never at peace either. He had resigned himself to that, years ago, when he had first realized his sister was in trouble. And now, everyday, he spent his waking moments doing whatever he could to make her safe, to make her better, to make her whole. And although he was a genius, nothing he had tried to date had had any noticeable effect.

“River?”

Circling back through the dining room and into the medbay, Simon still had no sign of her. Working his way to the cargo hold, he passed the captain. Mal was even less impressed with Simon’s efforts to help his sister. Giving him a curt nod, Mal was perfectly content to pass the younger man in silence, but Simon was not. “Have you seen River?”

“Lost her again, have you?” Mal asked the question but did not slow to hear an answer. Changing directions, Simon followed the captain up the stairs and into the dining area. “I wish you would put a leash on that girl.”

Simon tried to contain his anger. Mal was famous